[nagdu] Pet Safety During the Holidays

[Nicole Torcolini]

The ASPCA urges pet owners to make their homes pet-friendly during the
upcoming season:

*	Many people like to light candles during the holidays, if you do,
please only light candles when someone will be in the room enjoying them and
be sure to keep them away from where pets can get to them. 
*	Decorations can be fun and beautiful during the holidays, but pets
tend to put everything in their mouths. Skip hanging tinsel as part of your
decorations. Tinsel can block the digestive tract and cause choking. 
*	Plants and floral arrangements with mistletoe and lilies can be
life-threatening to pets; holly can be toxic too. 
*	Snow globes should be kept out of reach of pets. Some snow globes
contain a highly toxic substance to all pets. If a snow globe is broken, the
sweet smell can attract a pet to lick it up. 
*	Keep wrapped food gifts away from pets - they have a keen sense of
smell and will often unwrap presents early and eat all of the contents. 
*	Bones from turkey, ham, lamb and other meats can be dangerous. If
it's too large or sharp, a bone can damage the intestinal tract and require
surgery. 
*	Chocolate - particularly dark or baking chocolate - can be dangerous
for dogs, as well as the artificial sweetener Xylitol found in candy and
baked goods. 
*	Guests should be advised not to feed pets table scraps. And keep
alcoholic beverages away from pets.

 
Nicole